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Map 4D

Map 4D
Boulevard



The Map 4D quadrant, titled "Boulevard," covers the area of the Rahway Valley Railroad between the Boulevard south to where the Garden State Parkway, in later years, overpassed the railroad, between railroad mileposts 1.37 and 1.69. This segment was part of the original construction done by the New York & New Orange Railroad from 1897 to 1898. This segment also contained the original "Big Four" factories, the original four plants to locate in New Orange. This area evolved and later became quite industrious, housing such industrial concerns as Protexol, Papyrus Paper, Reduction & Refining, and Volco Brass, to name several. This area is now home to the A&P Supermarket, the Kenilworth Inn, and a car wash.


THE "BIG FOUR"

 

The "Big Four" at the corner of Boulevard and Market Street. Collection of Don Maxton.

The original "Big Four" factories to locate in New Orange were: Ricca Manufacturing Company which manufactured musical instruements, Charles E. Wright Manufacturing Company which manufactured bandsaws, New Orange Decorative Leather Company which repurposed scrap leather into chair backs, and the American Circular Loom Company which produced coatings for electrical wiring.

 

 

1898 to 1906




From 1898 to 1906 several changes occurred to the original four factories in New Orange, located in what we are called the Map 4D quadrant. By the end of 1902 the Ricca Manufacturing Company had vacated its plant and the American Veneer Company had moved into Ricca's former location. American Veneer later was devastated by a fire on December 29, 1912 which destroyed the entire building and all of its contents. The New Orange Decorative Leather Company became insolvent and left its building in c.1904. That factory building was then occupied by an unnamed machine shop in c.1905. Then, from 1906 onwards the National Air Cell Company occupied the building. Monarch Roofing Company came to this section in 1902 but vacated its spot, alongside American Circular Loom Company , by 1905. Circular Loom later annexed Monarch's building to its complex.



 

MAP FROM THE 1906 ATLAS OF UNION COUNTY



Map of the Map 4D quadrant area from the 1906 atlas of Union County, showing Charles E. Wright Mfg. Co., American Veneer Co., National Air Cell Co., and American Circular Loom Co. (after it annexed the plant of Monarch Roofing the year prior). Also shown, from the Map 4C quadrant are Kenilworth Station and the runaround. Roads on this map, such as Market Street, Galloping Hill Road, and the Boulevard are known to be extant. All other roads on this map cannot be substantiated, they were planned and some were only ever partially constructed.


1922

AERIAL VIEW FROM 1930

Aerial view of the area southeast of the Boulevard from 1930. Courtesy of the NJDEP.

 


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